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Why would an automaker knowingly accept a part that is out of spec?

When a 30-something gets a critically important executive position usually entrusted to a 50-something, well, Automotive News pays close attention.

The original Hyundai Genesis was a noble first shot at the luxury car market, but it couldn't match the driving dynamics, interior refinement or prestige of the Audi A6, BMW 5 series or Mercedes-Benz E350.

Capitol Hill's reaction to General Motors CEO Mary Barra's testimony last week sent a clear signal to Washington insiders: Congress is probably headed toward a round of reforms to U.S. laws and standards.

As federal regulators finalized a mandate for rearview cameras last week, Tesla Motors and the industry's main lobbying group sought permission to replace side mirrors with cameras. But the age of mirrorless cars will not come easy.

The one-page form that Senator Claire McCaskill held up in last week's Congressional hearings raises more questions about how GM's ignition switch design was executed and who had a say in it.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This edition looks at the challenges facing new PSA CEO Carlos Tavares.

PSA CEO Carlos Tavares wants the company's Citroen DS marque to become a stand-alone brand that can compete with premium German carmakers' products. Market watchers, however, have mixed views on this goal.

From press release

The opening round of the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS season, hosted this weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, near Imola, Italy, proved to be the proverbial rollercoaster for Canada's Luke Chudleigh.

An opening lap collision, and immediate retirement from Saturday's first race was followed on Sunday by a more promising run until mechanical issues thwarted the teenager just a handful of laps from the chequered.

A challenging first round started with mixed conditions in Saturday morning's qualifying, with the track slowly drying from earlier rain. With Chudleigh venturing out in the Tech1 Racing entry on rain tires, originally the preferred option, the rapid change in circuit conditions ultimately hampered the Milton racer's progress. Luke subsequently secured an 11th row grid slot for both races, mid-field in the 44-strong pack and fastest of his Tech1 Racing ALPS teammates.

Saturday's race saw an encouraging start by the 19-year-old, despite being nestled in the heart of the action - with several ‘Wild Card' EuroCup entries bolstering the regular Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS field this weekend. Luke's progress was to be short lived however as he found himself with nowhere to go heading into Turn 2. Caught up in the aftermath of an accident that had happened just ahead of him, Luke's car collected a rival, the damage done forcing immediate retirement from the race.

Another rapid start to Sunday's race allowed Luke to flash his prowess, gaining spots off the line and ultimately providing one of the positives from the weekend.

Running his first race laps of the season, the Canadian worked his way through the order, with clean passes and a pace equal to his Tech1 Racing EuroCup team-mate, Anthoine Hubert, who went on to finish tenth. Sadly for Luke however, a technical issue connected to his throttle resulted in his retirement on lap 11, the Canadian forced out for the second straight race bringing to a close a frustrating weekend.

“Well it certainly wasn't the weekend we were hoping for,” stated Chudleigh upon immediate reflection. “After an event like this I can only focus on the positives. Primarily those were my race starts, both of which saw me make up position. Race 1 ended at the second turn so Sunday's race was the only opportunity to see what I could do in the dry. When comparing my lap times to Anthoine's, I was matching him so that's definitely something to I can take heart from given he collected a top-ten finish today.”

He continued; “That, combined with the consistency of my pace, is definitely a plus but both races were a challenge, not least due to the sheer amount of traffic. That said, I'm now looking forward to making my Formula Renault 2.0 EuroCup debut at Motorland at the end of the month having had a chance to race against some of those drivers here in the ALPS Series. It's all good experience for me right now so I'll take the positives and look ahead to that next race!”

Saturday and Sunday's podiums were identical with Dutch racer, Nyck de Vries victorious in both events followed at the chequered by Brazil's Bruno Bonifacio - a EuroCup wild card entry, and France's Simon Gachet.

Luke will make his Formula Renault 2.0 EuroCup debut at the opening round of the series, hosted at Spain's Motorland Aragon circuit, Friday 25th - Sunday 27th April. He'll then return to the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Series as Round 2 heads to France and the Grand Prix of Pau, Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May.

BMW will host not one, but two world premieres at the upcoming New York Auto Show including the all-new X4 crossover and M4 Convertible.

The 2015 BMW X4 seats five and combines all the benefits of other X series models with the sporty looks and profile of a classic coupe. It will offer two engines ranging from 245 to 306 horsepower.

Photo: BMW

Meanwhile, the BMW M4 Convertible boasts a 431-horsepower, 3.0L inline six-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with the available seven-speed M dual-clutch transmission.

Photo: BMW

The BMW stand will also feature three North American debuts: 4 Series Gran Coupe, X3, and X5 eDrive concept.

Canadian ‘Crazy Leo' Ulrichich took part this past weekend in his maiden FIA World Rally Championship event, the Rally de Portugal, in a Ford Fiesta R2.

The Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy delivered on its promise to provide close competition when this weekend's opening event saw five different drivers lead the series before Estonia's Sander Pärn blasted home to steal victory on the final loop of stages at Rally de Portugal.

Toronto's 'Crazy Leo' had mixed events but benefitted from the WRC experience. He and his co-driver Andrew Roughead finished eighth in the Trophy, having complete the event in 4h 33m 42.2s

“People keep asking me about our expectations. I have to explain, that the field here is amazing, the guys are professionals, have tons of experience in the R2 car, and on these stages, so with me being completely new, our only expectation is to learn and have fun!” Leo said prior to the start.

After a cautious start, everything was going well. “We were going well when we hit a I rough rut in the middle of the road. I first though we got a flat, but the DMACK tire held up, while the suspension arm bent. We assessed, and kept going through the stages slowly hoping to finish,” recalled Leo.

“It was fine, until on the last road section the driveshaft came out of the joint, and despite all the efforts we were forced to stop. Luckily, the Super Rally allowed us to go again the following day

"This was an unbelievable experience and fantastic to come and start a WRC rally. It was very tough, difficult and a real challenge. We had some problems but it was great to cover all of the stages and really learn more about the car and stages. We have successfully finished our first WRC event and got the ‘Spirit of the Rally Award' from DMACK and M-Sport!” Leo explained.

General Motors is recalling 51,115 Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks from the 2014-2015 model years to address a powertrain issue.

On certain vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, transmission cooler lines may not have been securely seated in their fittings at time of assembly. This could result in a transmission fluid leak in proximity to hot surfaces which could increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will inspect the connections and repair them as necessary.

Affected models include:

• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
• 2015 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2014 GMC Sierra
• 2015 GMC Yukon
• 2015 GMC Yukon XL

Source : Transport Cananda

Lotus F1 Team driver, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado has been heavily penalised for causing the crash that caused the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez to roll over during the Grand Prix of Bahrain Sunday.

On lap 41 of the race, Maldonado exited the pit lane after his tire change, and tried to pass the Sauber going to Turn 1. Gutierrez was racing, and obviously never expected the Lotus driver to attempt such a (daring) move on the inside.

The Lotus did not suffer any serious damages, and Maldonado continued to race and crossed the line in 14th place. However, he was issued with a 10-second stop/go penalty.

Maldonado-Gutierrez collision (Screen capture FOM)

After the race, the race stewards also issued him with a five-place grid drop for the Grand Prix of China in two weeks, and put three points on his Super Licence.

Speaking after the race, Maldonado said he was a bit uncertain as to how the incident unfolded.

“We will need to have a look again at what happened as Esteban seemed to be off his line coming into Turn 1 - maybe he missed his braking point, I don't know - and by then I was in the corner with nowhere to go,” said Maldonado.

“For sure it's difficult to understand and I was coming out from the pits and with cold tires. I think he was very unlucky and it's good he jumped straight out of the car”.

Despite the heavy force of the impact, Esteban Gutierrez was able to climb out of his damaged Sauber C33 and was taken to the circuit's medical centre for mandatory checks. He was luckily okay.

Autoblog reports that a used 2011 BMW 1 Series will cost buyers more money than it did when it was brand new three years ago.

After some research, they found that the average asking price for a used 2011 BMW 1 Series in the U.S. (with about 18,670 km logged) was $61,670, while the base MSRP of a new BMW 1 Series was $46,135 back in 2011.

Rarity explains the price increase: Only 740 new copies of the 2011 BMW 1 Series were sold in the U.S.

Source : autoblog.com

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From press release

Scuderia Ferrari Club Montreal, official licensee of the Scuderia Ferrari club in Montreal is proud to announce the upcoming calendar of events for the 2014 Formula One season.

The club, currently in its second season, was the first official Scuderia Ferrari club in North America. Since its inception last year, cities such as Toronto, Denver and Philadelphia have created clubs to spread the passion around North America.

The mission of the club is to unite all those that are passionate about the Ferrari marque in the world of Formula One. It is open to Ferrari enthusiasts, young and old and of any origin. All you need is passion for the prancing horse.

Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari 312 T4, 1979. (Photo: WRi2)

Chapter president is Mr. Ernesto Anelli. The executive committee is composed of nine individuals who have been active in the world of motorsports for many years. The experience, dedication and passion of the entire executive committee is making the Scuderia Ferrari Club Montreal the talk of the town.

"I feel privileged to have been given the task of reinforcing the Ferrari passion in this incredible motor town which is Montreal," stated Founding president Ernesto Anelli, whose primary duty is to report directly to the Ferrari head office in Maranello. "I urge everyone to check out our Facebook page and our website and see what all the excitement is about," said Anelli.

The club invites anyone who is passionate about Formula One and Ferrari to quickly sign up on their website www.ScuderiaFerrariClubMontreal.com. Sustainers are also encouraged to follow the club on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SFCMontreal

A yearly membership costs $60 Canadian. Members may also enlist children and family members at an additional $15 a head. This includes a welcome kit directly from Ferrari in Italy.

Please find below a summary of the proposed events for the 2014 season:

• May 10 - Visit to the Gilles Villeneuve Museum in Berthierville.
• June 4 - Karting with the Scuderia Ferrari team at Kart-O-Mania.
• June 6-7-8 - The Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
• June 27-28-29 - Ferrari festival in Mont Tremblant.
• July 11-12-13 - Legends of Motorsport in Mont Tremblant.
• More events to come!

From GMM

A secret of Mercedes' 2014 dominance has been compared to the game-changing 'double diffuser' innovation of a few years ago.

In 2009, the Brawn F1 team -- that became Mercedes GP the year after -- doninated the season with its innovative, but controversial double diffuser.

It emerged in Bahrain that, beneath the skin of the dominant Mercedes-powered cars in 2014, the new turbo V6 features its turbine and air compressors uniquely packaged at either end of the 'power unit'.

It means that, although McLaren, Williams and Sahara Force India are also benefitting from the sleek layout, the works Brackley based team had vast lead-time in designing the aerodynamic concept of the dominant W05 around it.

"We're talking about 2014's double diffuser with the exception that you can't copy it this year," Mark Hughes, a highly respected F1 technical analyst, told the British broadcaster Sky in Bahrain.

"Its impact is maybe not quite as big as active ride (suspension), which was in the order of two seconds per lap, but it's certainly a major technical advantage that they've engineered themselves in for the rest of the season."

Rear of the Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Hughes explained that, although the customer Mercedes teams are running precisely the same innovation, it is the works squad that is taking most advantage.

"They gave themselves a big head-start -- it was the chassis team's concept to ask for this from the engine people, and they delivered it.

"The difference (for the customer teams) is that they found out about the detail of the engine when they signed the contract.

"But the works team gave themselves three years to conceive the car around that feature.

"For the (customers), it's presented as a little bit of a surprise, but they're still getting an advantage from the system," he added.

Sahara Force India's returned to the podium Sunday as Sergio Perez scored a brilliant third place in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Perez's teammate, Nico Hulkenberg was close behind in fifth place bringing the team's points total to 44 and moving the team up to second place in the constructors' championship, one ahead of McLaren.

Hulkenberg is third in the drivers' championship, behind the two Mercedes AMG drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Vijay Mallya with Sergio Perez, Bahrain 2014 (Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team)

The Mercedes-powered VJM07 proves to be not only fast, but also reliable, a factor that is crucial in 2014.

“This podium is an amazing achievement and one of the most special results in my whole career,” said Perez.

“This is a massive confidence boost, especially after the very hard season I had last year, and it was the hardest-fought podium I ever had. It was an amazing feeling to cross the line because the last few laps were very difficult. I had to keep up the pace and I knew the Red Bulls were coming. In the end we managed to stay ahead and score this very special result in only my third race with the team,” he added.

Historic day
“Today is one of the greatest days in the history of our team,” said an emotional Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director.

“It's been a long time coming, but it's very satisfying to see Sahara Force India back on the podium after so many near misses in recent years. We have a great driver line-up and today we saw both Checo and Nico at their best as they battled for a place on the podium. Without the safety car our two-stop strategies would have been much more comfortable because we faced a strong assault from the Red Bulls in the closing stages,” Mallya continued.

“Nico did a fantastic job to keep them back for so long and hold on to fifth place. It gave Checo the breathing space he needed to secure third place. So I'm extremely proud of everyone in the team and congratulate all of the team members on this achievement. 2014 is a new chance and we have shown we're moving forward in Australia, Malaysia and here. I couldn't be happier."

A rapid analysis of the top speeds of the various Formula 1 cars during the Grand Prix of Bahrain clearly demonstrates the huge advantage of the Mercedes-powered cars.

The Mercedes-powered cars -- the Mercedes AMGs, and Williamses, the McLarens and the Sahara Force Indias - enjoyed a comfortable cushion over their rivals in terms of top speed.

Top speed itself doesn't tell the full story because it is strongly related to the levels of downforce generated by the front and rear wings.

However, top speed is generally speaking a good indication of raw engine power. In a nutshell: the more power, the better the top speed.

Grand Prix of Bahrain
(Data from the FIA)

QUALIFYING
Speed trap
Top 3 are Mercedes-powered cars: 328.8 - 326.7 = +2.1 km/h
(This means that the three fastest cars were Mercedes-powered. The fastest car overall set a top speed of 328.8 km/h, while the fastest non-Mercedes car was down in fourth place at 327.7 km/h, resulting in an advantage of 2.1 km/h.)

Max speeds
Intermediate 1
Top 6 are Mercedes-powered cars: 244.9 - 242.4 = +2.5 km/h
Intermédiate 2
Top 3 are Mercedes-powered cars: 268.5 - 266.9 = +1.6 km/h
Finish line
Top 8 are Mercedes-powered cars: 291.1 - 288.3 = +2.8 km/h

RACE
Speed trap
Top 6 are Mercedes-powered cars: 335.7 - 327.8 = +7.9 km/h

Max speeds
Intermediate 1
Top 8 are Mercedes-powered cars: 242.4 - 236.6 = +5.8 km/h
Intermediate 2
Top 2 are Mercedes-powered cars: 255.9 - 252.6 = +3.3 km/h
Finish line
Top 5 are Mercedes-powered cars: 295.2 - 288.8 = +6.5 km/h

San Diego, CA -- Youth is certainly not eternal but at the same time, it is. Although you and I are getting older every day, someone somewhere turns 20. It is for this group of buyers that Kia -- along with many other carmakers -- targets cars such as the 2014 Forte Koup.

This car is a rare bird in a small segment that serves mostly as the young boy's (or girl's) affordable and attainable sporty car. With the hopes of capturing more attention for these cars, Kia has seriously revamped the Koup and has taken it from “fun” to a little more serious.

The result is a car that has (on paper at least) the potential to take eyes off the revered Honda Civic Si coupe and have them turn to it. The new Forte Koup is without a doubt an eye-catching automobile, but it lacks the dynamism provided by the Si. Its turbocharged engine is spirited but won't ignite any serious driving passion.


What is a Kia Forte Koup?
The 2014 Forte Koup is the 2-door variant of the compact Forte sedan. The Forte Koup made its first appearance in early 2008 right around the time the then-new Focus Coupe arrived, hoping to also compete with the mighty and popular Honda Civic Coupe.

2014 Kia Forte Koup Price and Specs
The basic 2014 Forte Koup EX+ retails for $20,995. The SX packaged car goes for $23,695 while the top of the line SX-Luxury comes in at $28,295.

The EX features a 173 horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. The SX versions are spoiled by a turbocharged 1.6L 4-pot that develops 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is the same mill that powers the Veloster Turbo.

Transmission selections reside between a 6-speed manual and automatic. Depending on trim, Kia's adjustable FlexSteer is available for the electric power rack and pinion. Brakes are 4-wheel discs, slightly larger on the SX trim and the suspension is fully independent, sport tuned on the SX.

Driving the 2014 Kia Forte Koup
As with the 2014 Kia Forte5, I was only given the opportunity to evaluate one of the four available powertrain configurations. As such, I ended blasting my way out of Borrego Springs (appropriate, no?) in a Koup SX with the automatic transmission.

This car's twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6L engine is the real story. The near absence of lag promotes rapid un-delayed acceleration, which is accompanied by a sweet turbo whistle. From 1,750 rpm, max torque is working to make the Koup go fast and it works until just before 5,000 rpm where the engine drops into a noticeable lull before max horsepower kicks in at 6,000 rpm. I found that, like old-school turbo-boosted cars, shifting early actually improves the seat-of-the-pant feeling.

When left in “D,” the autobox grooves from one gear to another without fail and will react accordingly on kickdown. Equipped with, well, flimsy and far-too-small plastic paddles, the automatic transmission can be coerced manually. Upshifts play ball, but because this is a “regular” slushbox, downshifts are not rev-matched and thus function more as an engine brake, marring what should be an otherwise sporty driving experience.

From there, steering also lacks the goods to be a true sporty alternative compact car. Strangely, unlike the Forte5, I found that the Koup's electric steering lacked bite on-centre. Perhaps I was expecting too much of the car but thankfully, it weighs up nicely, especially in the FlexSteer's Sport setting.

The ride also left me wanting more. Handling was better than good for a compact coupe, however, the car felt heavier than my SX-Luxury's already paltry 1,390 kg. It did not hamper the Koup's abilities per se, but this car is not as light or agile as it should be -- or worse, as lively as its competitors.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Kia Forte Koup
The 2014 Kia Forte Koup borrows heavily from its brethren, however, with two fewer doors. Like the other Fortes, the Koup features available Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights and LED taillights.

The SX trim is the one that sets the car apart. From the front lower gaping grille (that's all about function and form as it houses the intercooler) to the dual-exhaust tailpipes and specific wheels, the SX trades the Forte family's handsome styling for some attitude and road presence.

The 2014 Kia Forte Koup's cabin is well-crafted and according to some could use a little more colour. Ergonomics and presentation are on par or better than its competition. Heated front seats are standard on all trims, and a heated steering wheel is available. Bluetooth and satellite radio are included while navigation, leather, a cooled glove box and push-button start are all on the menu.

The cabin is roomy for a coupe as the rear bench can be used for its intended purpose. Seats are comfortable and offer up sufficient support.

Comparing the 2014 Kia Forte Koup
The Koup holds the aforementioned Civic Si coupe square in its sights. The Scion tC and Hyundai Elantra coupe are also on the short list, but Kia insists that their sporty-edged tuning lines them up with the revered Si.

The Kia may have more torque and bells and whistles on paper than the Honda, but the Civic essentially owns everything else. Those interested in more content and bang for their buck will love the Forte Koup whereas those looking for the drive will be more than swayed by the Civic Si.

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo did not wait to see Ferrari's drivers collect the dregs of the points in Bahrain.

The Ferrari president, having earlier admitted to pushing for rule changes to spice up the dull spectacle of F1's 'new' era, left the floodlit desert circuit during what many described as one of the best grands prix for a decade.

"I don't think there is much more to see," the Italian was quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport before leaving the track mid-race.

"Seeing a Ferrari so slow on the straight gives me great pain," he admitted. "I was not expecting much from this race, but something more (than this).

"It is necessary to put in extra effort and this week we have several things to try," added Montezemolo, referring to the post-race test in the island Kingdom.

The two Ferraris F14 T in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

For many, the undoubted spectacle of the Bahrain grand prix, featuring Mercedes' in-house duel but also battles throughout the field, put the lie to Montezemolo and Bernie Ecclestone's weekend of moaning about the new era.

Mercedes' Niki Lauda made the most stinging rebuke after the chequered flag, when he said "Anybody who complains this is boring is an idiot".

According to Auto Motor und Sport, he added: "All this nonsense about sound and fuel ... it was one of the best races I've seen in my life. I hope that tomorrow Bernie and Luca take the time to watch it on TV."

Mercedes team boss Paddy Lowe, obviously referring to words made by Ecclestone earlier in Bahrain, added: "This was exactly the right response to those who think formula one is unacceptable for the fans."

His colleague Toto Wolff agreed: "This was the best advertising for formula one when it was urgently needed."